We are developing several technologies for military applications. By combining innovative applications with existing platforms, we find the solutions that meet all requirements, are cost effective, and translate to deployable technology.  We specialize in the application of advanced and high-performance materials required for military applications, such as extreme environmental conditions, weight reduction, and ballistic impact resistance.  By understanding your requirements, we can select or create the material with the properties you need to create a direct impact on your capabilities, design the manufacturing system to use with these materials, and provide manufacturing expertise or services.

Our team serving the military sector are US citizens able to meet to the challenging demands of quick response time and quality work. Our proximity to and ongoing relationship with Virginia Tech provides us unique access to state-of-the-art laboratory resources and expertise in a broad range of scientific and engineering disciplines. 

For new military platforms, such as the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) and advanced air platforms, to achieve enhanced survivability and realize significant weight reductions as compared to current platforms, the ballistic impact resistance of the vehicle’s armor must be enhanced through the use of advanced engineering materials such as metal matrix composites (MMCs).  However, for these advanced materials to be deployed, a cost effective method for depositing thick coatings must be developed.  Current thermal spray technologies are not suited for depositing these advanced materials. 

Solution:

To address this deficiency, we are developing (with assistance from the Office of Naval Research) a low-temperature friction-based coating method termed friction stir fabrication (FSF).  This patent-pending process is capable of depositing thick coatings onto aluminum or other substrates.  The picture illustrates the process of adding a curved rib to the surface of a plate using friction stir fabrication.